Have fun! I did it in '08, just to say I had. WAY too many other cyclists on the road for my taste. But I know that some people just love that aspect of the ride. It looks like a lot less climbing than I did, should be a fast route. (If you can avoid being caught in the crowds like a fly in amber.)

I did it last year and had a blast! See my avatar (that's the Mississippi behind me and a 50+ jersey on me)! Would love to do it again but probably won't be able to take enough time off work this year. I'm considering doing the second half of BRAG instead.

Riding with 10000 to 20000 other cyclists didn't bother me much, and was actually fun once I got used to it. My first mistake was assuming I could actually ride through a "pass-through" town. But it's way too crowded for that: you have to walk through them.

70 miles on the last day will be tough. Everyone is in a hurry to get to the end town to meet their charter buses, which usually start leaving mid-afternoon.

Will be riding Ragbrai again this year, Riding from my sisters house 115 miles south of Sioux Center, Then riding the route till Friday, then going North to a friend house on Sat. for a day, will leave his place on Monday for my ride back to my sisters house. Should be close to 900 miles of riding by the time i get back. All self supported. Hoping for a little cooler weather this year, was a scorcher last year.

I'd be interested in their source of climbing totals. I looked at last year's course legs on ridewithgps, a reasonable barometer of climbing, and the published totals very the ride were significantly great; I think more than 2x. I might try to due a leg if I'm in Iowa on business.

I'd be interested in their source of climbing totals. I looked at last year's course legs on ridewithgps, a reasonable barometer of climbing, and the published totals very the ride were significantly great; I think more than 2x. I might try to due a leg if I'm in Iowa on business.

At this point I'm sure the climbing totals are estimates as they haven't decided on the exact routes yet. Once the routes are finalized, Rich Ketcham will likely go out on the route with his GPS equipment and get accurate course and climb information, then post it on http://www.geobike.com/

It is generally accepted as being accurate. Ridewithgps goes by approximate terrain information provided by another source and may not be as accurate as someone riding the course with the right equipment.

Have fun! I did it in '08, just to say I had. WAY too many other cyclists on the road for my taste. But I know that some people just love that aspect of the ride. It looks like a lot less climbing than I did, should be a fast route. (If you can avoid being caught in the crowds like a fly in amber.)

I've ridden the Apple Cider Century with 5000+ and found myself alone near the end, but that was a one day with multi-length routes and I was doing the metric century.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnl256

I did it last year and had a blast! See my avatar (that's the Mississippi behind me and a 50+ jersey on me)! Would love to do it again .....

I'll be sure my 50+ kit is on for the ceremonial front tire dip in Clinton.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnl256

Riding with 10000 to 20000 other cyclists didn't bother me much, and was actually fun once I got used to it. My first mistake was assuming I could actually ride through a "pass-through" town. But it's way too crowded for that: you have to walk through them.

Registration is allegedly capped at 10000; but there must be a few (thousand) more that scab the route.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnl256

70 miles on the last day will be tough. Everyone is in a hurry to get to the end town to meet their charter buses, which usually start leaving mid-afternoon.

For my riding buddies home is 15 miles east of Clinton. I, however, have three more hours of expressway(s) to get to my own bed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro Grouch

One of my claims to fame is riding Wednesday of RAGBRAI I.

Interesting! How was it with no crowds, no entertainment, no roadside food stands ??? And I'm assuming you must have been a teenager then, right?

Will be riding Ragbrai again this year, Riding from my sisters house 115 miles south of Sioux Center, Then riding the route till Friday, then going North to a friend house on Sat. for a day, will leave his place on Monday for my ride back to my sisters house. Should be close to 900 miles of riding by the time i get back. All self supported. Hoping for a little cooler weather this year, was a scorcher last year.

Wow, the IronMan version of RAGBRAI! I'm with ya on the weather wish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnl256

At this point I'm sure the climbing totals are estimates as they haven't decided on the exact routes yet. Once the routes are finalized, Rich Ketcham will likely go out on the route with his GPS equipment and get accurate course and climb information, then post it on http://www.geobike.com/

It is generally accepted as being accurate. Ridewithgps goes by approximate terrain information provided by another source and may not be as accurate as someone riding the course with the right equipment.

Very interesting website with piles of historical data. I wonder how much time and gas he has invested in driving all the legs of all 39 years? Thanks for the link.

Registration is allegedly capped at 10000; but there must be a few (thousand) more that scab the route.

Registration is capped (and I believe it is at 10,000). There are lots of "bandits" on the ride, either because they couldn't get a wristband or chose not to pay for one. Some estimates I've seen put the total ridership for RAGBRAI at close to 20,000.